danley



Patented Ap1. 25, |899.

w. W. DANLEY.

TERMINAL FDR PNEUMATiC DESPATCH TUBES,

(Application led Feb. 21, 1898A 4 Sheets-S heet l.

illu Model.)

we Nonms paens co.. Hom-mwa. WASHINGTON. n, c

No. 623,520. Patented' Apr. 25, |899. W. W. DANLEY.

TERMINAL FUR PNEUMATlC DESPATCH TUBES.

(Application led Feb. 21, 189B.)

4 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Modal.)

w: Nonms Psrzns co, PHoToMTHo.. wAsHworoN, n c

No. 623,520. Patented Apr. 25, |899. W. W. DANLEY.

TERMINAL FOR PNEUMATIC DESPATCH TUBES.

(Application tiled Feb. 21, 1898.)

4 Sheets-Sheet 3.

(No Model.)

lm@ s (jf/f No. 623,520. Patented Apr. 25, |899.

W. W. DANLEY.

TERMINAL FUR PNEUMATICDESPATCH TUBES.

(Application filed Feb. 21, 1898.)

(Nu Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 4.

nf; gyms persas co. Puo-rauwe.. wAsmNuToN. D. c.

UNTTen STATES PATENT Ormea.

VILLIS IV. DANLEY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO THE BOSTEDO PACKAGE AND CASH CARRIER COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

TERMINAL FOR PNEUMATlC-DESPATCH TUBES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N0. 623,520, dated April 25, 1899.

Application lcd February 21, 1898. Serial Not 671,047. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom it may concern,.-

Be it known that I, IVILLIS NV. DANLEY, of Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Terminals for Pneumatic-Despatch Tubes, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in terminals for pneumatic-despatch-tube systems, and has for its object to provide a construction adapted for use as a delivery-terminal for the main line or branches of such a system.

The present invention is in the nature of an improvement upon the construction set forth in an application filed May 17, 1897, Serial No. 636,976, by Louis Cr. Bostedo for improvements in pneumatic-despatch-tube systems; and it consists in certain novel features, which I will now proceed to describeV and will then particularly point out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a central vertical sectional view, partly in elevation, of a pneumatic-despatch-tube terminal embodying my invention, the same being shown in the normal or closed position. Fig. 2 is a similar view, the parts .being shown in the position which they assume when the carrier is being discharged from the terminal.

' Fig. 3 isaside elevation, on an enlarged scale,

of that portion of the terminal immediately adjacent to the discharge end thereof. Fig. et is a plan view of the same. Fig. 5is a view similar to Fig. 3, showing a modiiied form of construction, the parts being in the normal or closed position; and Fig. 6 is a similar view showing the parts in the discharge position.

Referring rst to the construction shown in Figs. 1 to 4, 7 represents the terminal portion of the main tube, which is provided near the open discharge end thereof with a gate or valve 8, preferably rectangular in form and mountedin a suitable air-tight casing 9. The valve or gate 8 is pivoted or hinged at the upper side of the main tube, it being provided with an axis or shaft 10, mounted in suitable hearin gs in the casing 9 at this point. To this axis there is connected a piston 11, the construction being preferably such that the valve or gate 8 and piston 11 form two similar members arranged at right angles to each other and constructed in one piece with the shaft or axis 10. The casing 9 is semicylindrical in shape, the lower portion thereof forming a part of the passage-way of the tube 7, while the piston 1l fits snugly within the upper portion of said casing. The gate or valve 8 and the piston 1l are connected by a curved diaphragm or plate 12, the curvature thereof having the axis 10 as a center, and there is thus formed between the members 8, 1l, and 12 an air-chamber 18, which communicates with the interior of the casing 9 by means of a port 14 in the diaphragm 12.

15 indicates a fixed diaphragm extending horizontally across theinterior of the casing 9 within the air-chamber 13, its edges bearing,

respectively, against the shaft 10 and curved plate or diaphragm 12 and being provided, if deemed desirable, with suitable packings, as indicated in Fig. 1, to prevent leakage at its edges.

16 indicates a pipe or passage communicating with the air-chamber13 at a point im mediately below the .fixed diaphragm 15 and eX- tending thence to a point where it communicates with the interior of the casing 9 or some other part of the system, said pipe or passage being provided with acheck-valve 17, which permits free passage of the air toward the air-chamber 13, but prevents its escape from said chamber. 1S indicates a pipe also leading from a point in the chamber 13 immediately below the fixed diaphragm 15 to a connection with the interior of the casing or other suitable part of the system and provided with a regulating-valve 19, whereby the passage may be so reduced as to permit the air to pass only very slowly through said pipe or passage 1S, the valve permitting the regulation of the size of the passage to adapt the same to the requirements of the apparatus.

The pipe 1S and valve 19 are broken away in Fig. 4 of the drawings in order to show the construction of the underlying parts.

A pipe 20, similar to the pipe 16 and provided with a check-valve 2l, leads from a point in the air-chamber 13 immediately above the fixed diaphragm 15 to a connection with the interior of the casing 9, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3, and a pipe 22, provided IOO with a reducing-valve 23 and corresponding in construction to the pipe 1S and valve lt), also leads from a point in the chamber 13 immediately above the fixed diaphragm l5 to a connection with the interior ofthe casing t).

2t indicates a suitable packing bearing against the shaft lO and adjustable by means of a set-screw or set-screws 25 to make au airtight joint at this point.

At a suitable distance farther from the discharge end of the tube 7 than the location of the valve or gate 8 there is located a second valve or gate S, mounted in a casinfr 0 by means of a shaft or axis lOfl and connected with an oscillating piston 11n. This gate in its construction and details is identical with the valve or gate S just described, with the exception that its axis is located below instead of above the main tube 7, so that while the gate S is normally closed by gravity the gate S is normally opened by the same force, the normal position of the two being that shown in Fig. l of the drawings.

26 indicates a pipe leading from a point in the main tube 7 or casing 9 immediately adjacent to but inside of the gate S to a connection with the casing 9 back of the piston 1l*L therein.

27 indicates a pipe extending from a point in the main tube 7 adjacent to the gate 8^, but between the same and the gate S, to a connection with the easing 9 back of the piston ll therein.

28 indicates a by-pass pipe extending from a point in the main tube 7 lying inwardly beyond the valve or gate S to a connection with the pipe 27, and in this pipe 2S is located a valve 29, which is connected to a piston 30 in a cylinder 31. rlhe cylinder 31 is connected with the pipe 28 on one side ot its piston by means of a pipe 32, which connects with the pipe 28 at a point between the valve 29 and the connection of the pipe 2S with the main tube 7. On the other side ot its piston the cylinder 3l is connected with the main tube 7 or casing S) at a point adjacent to but inside of the gate o1' valve S by means of a pipe 34 indicates a rod connected to the piston 30 and provided with a notch 35, said rod passing through a locking-rod 36, which is apertured at 37 to receive the same. The locking-rod 36 is mounted to slide vertically in a suitable bracket 38 and is forced normally upward by means of a spring 39, its upper end lying in the path of an arm 40, Se cured to the shat't or axis l() of the gate S.

I may provide in the pipe 26 a check-valve 4l, the stem 42 of which is in line with and normally abuts against the end ot' the rod 34, which holds said valve normally open, a spring i3 serving to close said valve when the rod 3l is withdrawn from contact with its stem.

The apparatus thus constructed operates in the following manner: A carrier.approaching the terminal in the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. l compresses the air between itself and the gate 8, and thereby causes the air to pass through the pipe 2G and, operating upon piston ll, closes the gate S, At the sameA time the air thus compressed passes through the pipe 33 to the cylinder 31, and since the pressure thus introduced into the cylinder on one side of the piston 30 thereot' is greater than the normal pressure et the system existing on the other side thereof said piston will be so moved as to close the valve 29. After the gate or valve S" and valve 2f) are closed the advance ot the carrier in the tube 7 creates a vacuum or partial vacuum in its rear, which exhausts the airin the pipe 27 and casing i), thereby moving the piston ll upward and opening the gate 8. At the same time the movement of the piston 30 has carried the rod S4 over into such a position that the notch 35 thereof will be engaged by the locking-rod 136, which is permitted to move upward under the influence of its spring 30 as soon as the upward movement of the gate 8 has removed the pressure of the arm Lt() on the upper end of said rod. The valve 29 is thus locked in a closed position, this locking of the valve being necessary, because otherwise when the gate S is opened the pressure on that side of the piston SO connected with the casino" f) would be reduced to atmospheric pressure and the system pressure through the pipe would reopen the valve 29 if some locking means were not provided. The movement of the rot Slt just described frees the stem 42 of the valve etl, and the same is closed by its spring 43 and prevents the escape of the air in the casing Of through the pipe 26 and the consequent opening bygravityof the gate S. The parts are new in the position shown in Fig. 2 and the carrier is discharged from the tube 7. As soon as the carrier clears the tube the pressure on the opposite sides of the piston 11 is equalized and the gate 8 closes by gravity. This movement causes the arm 4() to strike the locking-rod 3G and moving the same downward disengages itfrom the rod Bt, whereupon the system pressure on the piston 30 in the cylinder 31 returns the same to the position shown in Fig. l, thereby opening the valve 29 and also the valve 4-1. Upon the opening of the valve 29 the system pressure passes through the pipes 2S and 27 to that portion of the main tube 7 on the outer side of the gate S, and the pressure being thus equalized on the opposite sides of said gate it opens by gravity and returns to the position shown in Fig. l. The parts are now all in their original position ready for the receipt and discharge of another carrier.

Provision is made for cushioning the action of the gates or valves S and S" and their pistons 1l and 11 by reason of the construction hereinbefore described. For instance,

when the gate or valve S begins to open air may pass freely through the pipe 2O and check-valve 2l from the interior of the easing 9 to the interior of the air-chamber 13 between the piston 11 and the fixed diaphragm IOO l5, thereby permitting the said piston to rise and move away from the diaphragm without creating a vacuum between the two parts during the initial portion of its upward movement. As soon as the upper edge of the port 14 has passed clear of the fixed diaphragm 15 the pressure is equalized between the interior of the casing and the air-chamber13 and the piston and gate continue to move freely upward. At the end of the upward movement of the parts, when the lower edge of the port 14 has passed clear of the fixed diaphragm 15, the air in the chamber 13, between said fixed diaphragm and the gate 8, is compressed as the gate advances. This is due to the fact that the check-valve 17 in the pipe 16 prevents the escape of air through said. pipe, while the reducing-valve 19 in the pipe 18 permits only a slow escape of the air in closed between these parts. The closing portion of the upward movement of the piston and gate is thus cushioned, and shock or pounding of the parts is thus prevented. Upon downward movement of the parts air is freely admi-tted through the pipe 16 and check-valve 17, so that no vacuum exists within the airchamber 13 to prevent free movement of the parts. At the end of the downward movement of the parts, after the port 14 has again passed clear of the fixed diaphragm 15, the air is compressed between the piston 11 and said fixed diaphragm, being prevented from passing out through the pipe 2O by the checkvalve 21 therein and escaping slowly through the pipe 22 and reducing-valve 23. The gate S and piston 11n are similarly cushioned by a construction identical with that just described.

The construction-of the piston and valve in the manner set forth, being set at an angle to each other on a common axis, is a construction having the advantages of great simplicity and direct connection, dispensing with intermediate connecting devices or parts and adapting the structure to be made with the piston, gate, and shaft in a single piece, which construction I prefer, although it is obvious that the parts may be separately secured to the shaft. The location of the two parts at substantially a right angle to each other is also advantageous in that the parts are not on a dead-center when closed or opened and at a right angle or parallel to the axis of the main tube, but will resume their normal positions by gravity as soon as permitted to do so by the equalization of the pressure.

The apparatus hereinbefore described may be obviously modified as to various details of construction without departing from the principle of my invention. For instance, I have shown in Figs. 5 and G a construction in which the rod 34 is operated from the shaft 10 by a slightly-modified mechanism. In this construction the locking-rod 36 rests at its lower end upon the rod 31 by reason of its gravity, and the rod 3/1 is provided with a projection 35, having that side thereof adjacent to the cylinder 31 inclined, while the side farthest from said cylinder forms a vertical shoulder. 'Ihe upper end of the rod 36 is provided with a lateral projection 3G, which lies in the path of the arm 40, which in this construction is provided with a hinged extension 40, adapted to yield in one direction only and held in place by a spring 401?. In this construction when the rod 34 passes under the end of the locking-rod 3G the inclined portion of the projection 35a raises said locking-rod, which subsequently seats itself behind the vertical shoulder of said projection, as shown in Fig. 6, and thereby holds the valve 29 locked. Upon the upward movement of the gate or valve S the extremity 40 of the arm 10 yields upon contact with the projection 36, so as to allow said arm to pass said projection and assume the position shown in Fig. 6. Upon the downward movement of the gate 8 the extension 40a of the arm 40 engages the projection 36"L and lifts the rod 36, thereby freeing the rod 34 and permitting the valve 29 to be opened. In these figures I have also shown the checkvalve 41 in the pipe 26 as omitted, as I do not deem its employment essential, although perhaps desirable under certain circumstances. Other modifications will readily suggest themselves, and I therefore do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the precise details of construction hereinbefore set forth and shown in the drawings.

I claim- 1. In a pneumatic-despatch-tube system, a terminal comprising a main tube, two gates or valves located at separated points therein, motors for actuating said gates ,or valves, a pipe or passage connecting the motor of the inner gate or valve with the main tube at a point adjacent to the outer gate or valve, a valve located in said pipe, and means for closing said valve when the outer gate or valve is open, substantially as described.

2. In a pneumatic-despatch-tube system, the main despatch-tube in combination with two gates or valves located one at the discharge end of the tube and normally closed,'

and the second some distance inward therefrom and normally open, a motor for the inner gate having a pipe or passage connected with the main tube near the outer gate, a motor for the outer gate having a pipe or passage connected with the main tube on the discharge side of the inner gate, a by-pass connecting the main tube at a point inside of the inner gate with the pipe or passage cf the outer gate, and a valve in said by-pass actuated by the variations in pressure caused by the movement of the carrier in the main tube, substantially as described.

3. In a pneumatic-despatch-tube system, a semicylindric valve-casing and a valve and piston tting therein and mounted at right angles to each other on a common axis, one half of the casing serving as a pressure-chamber for the piston and the other half consti- IOO IZO

tuting a portion of the despatch-tube, substantially as described.

4. The combination, with the main tube, of a easing, a gate, andan actuating-pistou therefor mounted t0 oscillate on a common axis, a curved connecting-plate or diaphragm provided with a port and forming au air-chamber, and a ixed diaphragm Within said airchamber whereby the movement of the gate and piston is cushioned at its limits of motiou, substantially as described.

5. The combination, with the main tube and a suitable easing, of a gate or valve, and a piston therefor connected to a common axis,

XVILLIS V. DANLEY.

fitnesses PAULINE 'I-IALLER, NICHOLAS AUsPAcH. 

